Meet the Den
We are fortunate at OCTC to have many different faculty and staff advisors helping
our students achieve their educational goals!
Please, take a look at who's who in the Den!
Success Coaches & Advisors in the Pathfinder Den
Graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1983 (BA in Psychology; minor in Theatre)
and 1985 (Master of Arts in Higher Education/ Student Personnel Services).
Born in Taiwan, I grew up in Eastern Kentucky in a small town called London, population 4006! I love to read, drink coffee, watch TV with my dog on my lap. I have worked at OCTC for 20 years and love helping guide students through the college process and discovering their career passions!
Phone: (270) 686-4529 or (270) 686-4683
Email: katie.ballard@kctcs.edu
Responsible for promoting a positive and successful learning experience for students
pursuing majors, advising, providing academic and transitional support, and creating
partnerships.
Graduated with a bachelors from the University of Louisville in 2016 and a Masters from Western Kentucky University in 2021.
I enjoy playing Madden and 2k on my PS5, spending time with family and daughter, and watching my nephew play football and baseball.
Phone: (270) 686-4656
Email: maurice.calhoun@kctcs.edu
Graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication
and Psychology and with an Associate Arts from SKYCTC in 2018.
Some of my favorite things to do when I am not at work include spending time with my husband and animals, reading, dancing, painting, and traveling. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you.
Phone: (270) 686-4627
Email: tori.brown@kctcs.edu
Graduated from Owensboro Community & Technical College in 2017 with an Associate in Arts degree (#octcproud); earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership in 2020 from Western Kentucky University; on track to earn a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Western Kentucky University in 2022. I have been a part of the OCTC family for ten years. My passion for helping others reach their academic goals has led me to become a Success Coach for students pursuing an education in manufacturing and skilled trades programs. I am also a First Year Experience/Strategies for College Success Instructor.
I am an Owensboro native and in my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and being outdoors.
Phone: (270) 686-4623
Email: ceary.crisp@kctcs.edu
Faculty Advisors
Graduated from The University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Arts in English
and from Western Kentucky University with a Master of Arts.
I have been a Professor of English since 2006 (part-time since 1994) and teach composition classes, as well as, Introduction to Holocaust Literature and Film, Introduction to Native American Literature (and a little film).
I am the Co-chair of the Common Reading program and coordinator for the Study Abroad program.
While I grew up here in Owensboro, I have lived in Texas, California, Washington state, and Virginia (near Washington D.C.) as a military spouse with my husband of 40 years. I am also known as, “KK,” to the two cutest grandchildren on the planet.
I graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with my Bachelor’s in English in 2015 and with my Master’s in English in 2018. My emphasis for research and writing is rhetoric and composition combined with feminist studies and theory.
I currently teach introductory composition courses for OCTC and have been with OCTC since 2019. I have also taught English courses at University of Southern Indiana since 2019.
I live in Stanley with my three dogs: Buddy, 11-year-old Puggle; Koda, 5-year-old German Shepherd; and Dante, 1.5-year-old Beagle. In my spare time you can find me anywhere near the water during the summer or enjoying time outside during the fall. I love all things spooky, horror, and Halloween-related and I would love to retire to the beach one
Graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Music Education and from
Indiana University with a Master and Doctor of Music Education
I am a Professor of Music at OCTC and teach a variety of courses, including private voice instruction, and I conduct the college's OCTC Chorus.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Arkansas; after moving to Kentucky in 2003, I Earned a Master of Arts in English (literature emphasis) and Master of Public Administration degrees from WKU.
I have been teaching college writing for over 14 years--about 10 of those years at OCTC. Whether teaching or advising, the most fulfilling part of my job is connecting with students, watching them grow, and helping them reach their goals.
I have two wonderful sons (one grown and one in fifth grade) and two spoiled dogs (Zora and Duck). When I have free time, I enjoy bike riding on the Green Belt or Rudy Mine trails, reading books, and listening to live music.
Graduated from Murray State University in 2001 with a Master of Science in Biology.
I teach Anatomy & Physiology and Intro to Biology. I have also taught: Intro to Biology Lab, Microbes and Society, Intro to Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical Microbiology, Intro to Biotechnology and Biotechnology Techniques. I am also Biology discipline coordinator.
My hobbies include hiking and photography. I have two kids in college. I live with my husband and two dogs (Black Lab named Bruce Wayne and Aussiedoodle named Jasper), and my boys when they are not away at school.
I'm Bob Glenn and teach Communication Courses at OCTC. I have taught classes in public speaking, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, persuasion theory, argumentation and debate, and I also coach our award- winning Speech and Debate team. Membership on the team is open to any student who wishes to improve their speaking and communication skills. I enjoy traveling, following sports (Go Orioles, Vikings, Golden Knights, Rebels, Cats, Cards and Boilers!!). I've been married for 33 years to the best woman in the World, Holly and we have two adult children and one perfect grandchild.
Graduated from Brescia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary & Middle School
Grades Education, from Western Kentucky University with a Master of Arts in School
Counseling, and from University of Tennessee Martin with a Rank 1 in School Administration
and Supervision.
I am the Teacher Education Program Coordinator at OCTC and also teach Psychology.
My passion is building relationships with my students and continuing those relationships long after they leave OCTC, so I can see them get their first teaching job and serve as a resource for them long after they are in my classes.
Graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1983 and a PhD in Food Chemistry in 1995.
I teach chemistry lecture and labs. I was an AmeriCorps Volunteer where I was responsible for the Indiana Reading Corps at University of Evansville. U of E students went to local schools to help K - 3rd graders bring up their reading levels.
Graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science
in Secondary Mathematics Education and Mathematics, from Murray State in 2006 with
a Master of Science in Mathematics, from the University of Illinois in 2009 with a
Master of Science in Statistics, and from the University of Illinois post-2009 with
additional graduate coursework beyond Master's Level
I am an Instructor of Mathematics and Statistics here at OCTC, and I also work as a faculty advisor in the Pathfinder Den to our students pursuing an Associate in Science degree.
I love trivia and puzzles. I also enjoy a variety of video games (and board games when my friends and I get together). I was valedictorian of my high school class when I was 16, and graduated with two bachelor's degrees before I was 21. My 16th and 21st birthdays both fell on Father's Day. I can solve a Rubik's Cube in under two minutes.
Bio coming soon!
Bio coming soon!
Graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Ph.D. in Philosophy
I am the philosophy instructor here at OCTC. I teach a variety of different philosophy courses, including Intro to Philosophy, Ethics and Medical Ethics. I'm originally from Minnesota, and my favorite animal is the red panda. I even have a red panda tattoo.
Graduated from Western Kentucky University with a with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Education/Psychology. I have additional graduate coursework in Addictions.
I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology at OCTC, and I also work as a faculty advisor in the Pathfinder Den to our students pursuing a credential at OCTC. I have also taught adjunct at KWC and Brescia University.
I love puzzles and genealogy research. I collect psychological artwork. I have art examples from serial killers, multiple personalities, and others diagnosed with various mental health concerns.
Graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
in 2007 and a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition.
I’m a Professor of English at OCTC, teaching English I and II, Introduction to Women’s Literature, and FYE. I love to travel, especially abroad, and enjoy hiking, yoga, and reading long novels.
Also located in the Den... The Experiential Learning Center!
The Experiential Learning Center (ELC) offers a variety of services to students, faculty,
employers and community partners.
Student services include career exploration, internship and job opportunities, resume and interview assistance, mentoring and coaching, and a variety of workshops aimed at helping students become successful.
The ELC assists faculty with developing course-embedded experiential learning opportunities and establishing placement sites for programs requiring internships or job shadowing.
Employers and community partners can work with the ELC to recruit interns and employees, develop project-based opportunities, mentor the future workforce, and to post jobs on the career services platform Handshake.
